1936-03-12 — Page 9

TRANSFER OF LEAGUE

COUNCIL VENUE

Decision Surprises French Political Circles

"Hong Kong Daily Press" Special)

Paris, March 11.

The decision of the Locarno powers to resume their dis- cussions on Thursday in London, and that the next session of the League Council will also be held in London, caused much sur- prise in political circles here. Most observers are inclined to be- lieve that the British Government has insisted on this change be- cause it was feared that Mr. Eden may make too may concessions to the French point of view, and enter into commitments which other members of the British Cabinet consider inexpedient.- Transocean News Service.

London, March 11.

It is understood that one of the considerations leading to the proposal to hold the Locarno Paet signatories' and League Coun cil meetings in London was that public opinion in Great Britain has remaned most calm throughout the present crisis, which will assist in the admittedly difficult negotiations. It is also consi- dered that communication between London and Berlin, if it is necessary, would be much easier than between Geneva and Ber- n. This will be the first meeting of the League Connell in Bri- tain since 1922.-Reuter.

Furis. Mar. 11.

FRANCE CALM

A Paris The invitation to the Locarno

press message states signatories to go to London is due that the news" that the Counell is tr meet in London has on the largely to the very deep impression

whole been well received in the made on Mr. Anthony Eden and Lord Halifax by the statements of French Press. France is remain- M: Flandin and M. Van Zeeland, ing calm despite the tension of the problem on the the situation and is apparently who placed

awalt developments plane of the League and em-disposed to phasised the menace to the peace with confidence. of Englishmen and destred Mr. Baldwin and the members of the Cabine: to hear the same · argu ments.

It is also hinted that Mr. den is anxious to avoid the face of Str Samuel Hoare after the Paris con- versation.

It is learned from authoritative sources that the minimum ance that Germany could accept

convention quaran should sign a feed by Britain and Italy. by which Germany will undertake not to construct fortiñcations in the Rhineland zone,

France is expected to invoke the League resolution of April 4, 1935, condemning the unilateral re- pudiation of

undertakings. and providing" for economic and finan- clal sanctions. France wishes to count on the wholehearted support of the guarantor States, even if it going as far as military means

measures. Heuter.

"OLD CABINET ROOM "

The meeting of the

Locarno powers will be held on Thursday afternoon or evening in the "Old Cabinet Room" at the Foreign Office. The hour and place where the

meeting of the Saturday League Council will be held have not yet been fixed. There is a possibility that it may be held at St. James Palace.- British Wireless.

DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENT

Paris, Mar. 1D.

There were dramatic develop- ments this evening when, after the second meeting of the Locarno Powers' representatives at the Qual d'Orsay, from 7.40 pm. until 10.12 p.m.. it was announced that It

HONG KONG DAILY PRESS,

GERMAN POINT OF VIEW

X

Hitler JustifiesTM His Action

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 1936.

TO GERMANY

NEGUS TAKES COMMAND

Well Armed Force On March

("Hong Kong Dally Press" Special) London, Mar. 10.

Asmara, March 11. The German Chancellor, Herr

Troops under the personal com- Adolf Hitler, further explained his

the Negus have left attitude towards the Treaty of Lo- mand of rarno and his action in reoccupy- Dessle, and it is expected that Ing the Rhineland with military they will approach the Irailan forces stationed southwards of forces in an important interview with Mr. G. Ward Price at Munich Amba Alaji in four or five days It is stated that this army is The Interview was given muchi pro- minence in the "Daily Mail" to-equipped with the most inodorn means of warfare as well as with ample ammunition.

day.

Herr Hitler stated that his pro- posal for non-agression pacts with border states was meant to be uni- versally applied, with Austria and Czecho-Slovakia. included in the scheme. The pacts could be more efficiently negotiated by direct dealings between the governments concerned, he said, I

Pacts between Germany on one side and France and Belgium, and perhaps Holland. on the other, should be a marter for the govern ments of those countries, and for and the governments of Britain Italy, which would be invited to sign as sureties.

It might perhaps be desirable that the powers which guaranteed the pacts should first discuss the matter with those whose security they would guarantee.

Similarly, non-aggression pacts could be directly negotiated be- between other bordering states. Germany would be only too glad, nowever, if some other power, Br- tain for example, would come for- ward as an honest broker with a practical proposition for a solution of these matters.

k

ANOTHER CHANCE

The German Government, said Herr Hiller, would do nothing more to alter the existing situation. There was no reason to fix a time Hit 1or thetr proposals but if they were again rejected or simply Ignored, the German Government would not importune Europe with further overtures,

Herr Hitler disclaimed any in- tention of aggressive action against France, but in view of the fact that the France-Soviet military alliance was contrary to the spirit and letter of the Locarno Pact the densely populated and economi- cally valuable border zone of the Reich could not be left defenceless, he said.

He urged that demilitarised zones on a reciprocal basis was the best solution.

-Had he begun by making his pTO-

had been decided that the League of Nations' Council should meet in London on Thursday and that Mr. Anthony Eden. the Bri- tish Foreign Secretary, and Lord Halliax, the Lord Privy Seal who accompanied him to Paris, would SOCIALIST DISAPPROVAL

fly to London to-morrow to disposals, coupled with. a demand for ("Hong Kong Daily Press" Special)

cuss further the position with Paris, Mar. 11. members of the British Cabinet The Socfallst group of the French The French are understood to be Chamber unanimously passed a delighted at the decision of the "resolution expressing disapproval British delegates to invite a dis- of the "unilateral denunciation of cussion of the Locarno problem in the Locarno Treaty" and "brutal London. occupation of the Rhineland The idea emanated from Mr. Zone." The resolution warna, Eden and Lord Halifax, who sub-certainly have acted in the same however, to make the present mlited It to Mr. Stanley Baldwin,

way. The German proposals, he a question of prestige the Prime Minister, whose approval concluded, would render a great situation and sell-complacency, and advises,

was received just before the secon service to Europe and the cause of moreover. to seek a settlement by conference at the Qual d'Orsay this peace if they were accepted.

Üleuter.

arbitration

The general pacts for non- aggression and military assistance should, the resolution goes on to say, be supplemented by a general disarmament convention- #saurneran News ServiCE

PROPOSAL WELCOMED

London, Mar, 11.

evening.

SERIOUS IMPLICATIONS

The net result of the morning conference of the Locarno powers is understood to be at increased realisation of the serious implica- Ulons of the German action in T- occupying the Rhineland.

It is understood that France in- sists upon the withdrawal of even a symbolic force of German troops before she will negotiate with Ger-

The Negus is stated to have held an important war council before leaving Dessle. and he proclaimed in a pubile address that the troops will now fight under his personal

command.

It is understood that important

movements of Italian troops are

also taking place, the Italian air force being especially active and reinforcements being brought up

from Temblen. Transocean News Server

DEBRA MARKOS BOMBED

Addis Ababa, Mar. 11.

It is reliably reported that Debra Markos, capital of Gojjam province. received one of the most intense bombardments of the war.

Twelve planes relentlessly bombed the town. wrecking buildings killing fifty and wounding eighty Ave non- combatants.--

Reuter's Bulletin Service,

FRENCH REPLY CULMINATING POINT IN

Premier's Speech In The Chamber

ARMAMENTS

Mr. Winston Churchill's

Warning

Paris, Mar, 10. Queues walted for two hours 'to obtain admittance to the Cham- ber of Deputies to-day to hear the

"I fear, indeed, that there may be a culminating point`in the .M. Albert Barraut's armaments 'history of Europe. I cannot tell when it will be reach- Premier,

German ed, but certainly it will be reached in the lifetime of the present speech, in reply to the Chancellor's memorandumt offering Parliament. It may pass off, Let us never accept the theory of in- new security terms to the French ovitable war, but neither lei as blind our eyes to the remorseless The Prime Minister sald that march of events," said Mr. Winston Churchill during the debate in France's request to Germany, made the House of Commons en Britain's defence plans. through the Ambassador at Ber-

"A terrible dilemma Hes ahead of the most peacefully minded lin, to define the basis for con- Government," he said. "If they go on there is bankruptcy. If they versations as an outcome of a re-stop there is tremendous unemployment. The German Government cent interview with Herr Adolf will have to choose at no distant date between internal and external Hitler published in a Paris news-catastrophe."

London, Mar: il. paper, had been answered with the

The debate in the House of repudiation of the Treaty of Lo- carno, a freely negotiated part. Commons of the Defence White and the sudden and brutal reoccu- Paper

to-day. Was. continued pation of the Rhineland demill The Home Secretary, Bir John tarised zone."

Simon emphasised that the normal system in which

the Committee of Imperial Defence, of which the Prime Minister WIS Chairmar operated, and of which the Chiefs 01 the "Stan Committee was one of its many sub-committees,

was suited to normal times, but it be- came necessary to reconsider, strengthen and elaborate it in the times through which passing.

Thirty battalions of infantry and artillery units had been poured in to this treaty-defended ares, said M. Barraut.

N

"We have taken up our stand within the framework of the League of Nations because the fake of the League will be at stake in the near future." declared the Prime Minister..

Franco-Soviet, the Defending pact, he denied that France had she promised Russia. more than would owe in any case as a League

member.

M. Saraut invited the German people, in the name of its culture

and racial virtues, to ponder the new responsibilities certain people wish to make it assume. He averred that France never had and never would wish to assall German Uberty and honour.

BOMBING PLANES

Addis Ababa, Mar. 11. "France has no advantage to

bombing An Italian

plane draw from the misery of the Ger- squadron cruised over the northman people," he asserted. front along the Takazze river on Tuesday, dropping bombs оп Dekenze on the way back.

France could not negotiate under the shadow of violence and after the denunciation of treaty signa- tures voluntarily exchanged, he de- eclared.

The civil authorities in Addis Ababa have ordered that benzine stocks in the capital be transferred outside the city slace in the event of, bombardment the danger of fire is very serious in view of the light wooden structure of most of the buildings.-

amocean News Service.

የጉ

MARTIAL LAW

IN SPAIN

Serious Incidents In Granada

restoration of sovereign rights in the Rhineland, they would pro- bably have been approved by the! world, Herr Hitler added. But he did not believe they would ever have reached the conference table.("Hong Kong y» Press" Special) British and French statesmien who found their country in so tragic a condition as he found his would

WORLD MUST ACCEPT

Berlin, Mar, 10. must The world

accept the Fuehrer's proposals; there was no other solution; they were the only proposals which could restart national economic recovery in Eu- rope, declared Dr. Joseph Goebbels. Minister for Propaganda, in a broadcast spee¬h at the opening of the election can balgn. to-night-

"We did not wt to break the bridges with France. On the con- The point especially iressed this trary we seek peace more than morning was that Belgium's secur-ever" he declared Ity was even more dependent upon Reuter the existence of a demilitarised zone than France's, and that Ger- many was unable to accuse Bel- gium of violating the Locarizo Pact, as abe has accused France in connection with the Franco- Russian agreement. ***

enter.

The announcement of trans- ference to London instead of to Geneva of further consideration by the Locarno powers and by the League Council of the crisis pre-many cipitated by Germany's violation of the Locarno Treaty and entry of her troops into the demilitarized zone took most people by surprise, but it appears to be widely wel comed in Britain and most Eu- ropean countries.

The suggestion came from Mr. Eden and Lord Halifax, British Ministers, at yesterday's consulta tions in Paris. It was approved by their 'Government and afterwards by the French Belgian and Italian representatives in Paris, Later with the approval of the President of the League Council, the pro- posal was put to members of that body that if no objections were received the League Council would hold an extraordinary, session in London next Saturday.

Mr. Eden said that Lord Halifax had intended to return to London from Paris by air this morning. but owing to bad weather he was forced to travel by train..

ITALIAN ATTITUDE

UNDEFINED

Rome. Mar. 10. While Itary is participating in the Paris discussions in respect of Germany's violation of the Locarno Treaty, no clear statement of her attitude has been published off cially as yet,

According to present arrange- Her position is made the subject ment, Signor Grandi will By to of ironical comment in the press London to-morrow morning and "Etampa," for example, says Paris will be joined later in the week by and London are taking the position M. Paul Boncour, M. van Zeeland that Italy is a guarantor of the and the Italian Ambassador and Treaty of Locarno, but pretend to they are expected to represent forget that Italy is an accused their countries at the conversa-nation put beyond the pale. tions of the Locarno powers.

Bruter

"Not Even A Thin

· Excuse"

JA

were

more

As they approached the difficult time of emergency-if un- happlly they should approach the

was necessary war-what

Was more continuous contact, and more.

rapid co-operation than they got with the Committee of Imperial

Defence on the one hand, and the Cabinet on the other. If the pro- posals in the White Paper were approved by Parliament a portion of the difficulties of the urgent and important task would have to be most promptly discharged. It would require the most unremitt- ing attention.

were in Germany who

formerly unemployed hud. found emp.03- quent in munitions manufacture; or in armed forces. The financial situation has become such that this cannot go on indefinitely. A terrible dilemma lies ahead of the most peacefully minded Govern-

menti If they go on

there a bankruptcy. If they stop there is tremendous unemployment. The Germap Government will have to choose "at no distant date between internal and external catastrophe.'

what Can we doubt

course the man at the head of Germany would be likely to choose?

ONLY HALF READY Germany, we are told, is not yel ready for war. Some say she is only. half ready yet we see that already they are the only nation in Europe-

unafraid of war. If what we have

seen in the last few days is the mood of a partially armed Ger- many, imagine what it will be when the colossal preparations which are being made are approaching their, zenith, and when the limits of in- ternational borrowing are already Insight. Wars do not always wal: tal the combatants are ready."

"I fear indeed that there may In the Judgment of Government

bo a culminating point in. 13. some expansion of the existing or armaments history of Europe. I ganisation for dealing with the cannot tell when it will be reach- France was ready to unite with cefence was now required, and theed, but certainly it wil be reach other League powers and to reply Government had reached the con-

ed in iifetime of the present Par- to this formidable attack on Inter-ciusion that this would best be

iament. It may pass off. Let us national. confidence, faith in done by creating a new Minister.

never accept theory of inevit- treaties of collective security and who would exercise bigh and specable war, but Beither let us blind the organisation of peace. M. Bar-tal authority. 45:

definite the raut proclaimed. France was also Chairman of the Committee of prepared to negotiate with Ger- Imperial Defence. set out in the many but respect for international White Paper.

law must arst be re-ensured.---.

Ieuter..

VOYAGE OF POTSDAM INTERRUPTED

Mishap In Channel

Landon, March 11. The new N.DL. liner Potsdam which left Bremen yesterday on her second voyage to the Far East

turned back to Bremen owing to a

slight fire and breakdown of the engines. The mishap occurred in the English Channel before the

from England

Madrid, Mar. 11. Martial law has been proc.aim the province of Granada in view ed by the Spanish Government in of the serious disorders which oc- passengers curred in connection with the ge-barked neral strike.

The premises of papers of non- left wing tendencies have been raided and demolished, likewise a theatre partly destroyed, as wel: as several cafes completely demo-

shed by the riotous mob.

Heuter.

em-

CIVILIANS IMPLICATED IN TOKYO UPRISING

Tokyo, Mar. 11. As the Madrid authorities are Martial law wi probab.y.con- applying a strict consorship, it is thue to be enforced until March rather difcut to obtain exact re-31 possibly with a view to assist- ports as to the real extent of uping the authorities in rounding up heaval and disorder in Granada the civilang implicated in the re- Transocean News Servicë.

cent mutiny. So far 150 civilians have been arrested.

BUILDINGS BURNED..

Madrid, Mar. 11.

if

Except for this fact, the 'martial law, has caused no interference Four large buildings including a with the normal activities at the convent and Catholic party head. | capital- quarters were set on fire folowing Reuter. the earlier incident

Reuter.

TENSION IN SPAIN

PRIVY COUNCIL HEAD IN JAPAN RESIGNS

GERMAN REARMAMENT Mr. Winston Churchill later took part in the debate. He said the scale on which foreign rearma ment was proceeding, was pro- digious. Some time ago he made a statement that Germany had

or indirectly spent, directly

ม

our eyes to the remorseless march of events." British Wireless.

VOTE OF "CONFIDENCE

London, Mar 10. The House of Commons to-day approved the Government's De- fence White Paper by 371 votes to" 153, after refecting by 378 votes to 155 the hostile Labour amendment. Mr. Neville Chamberlain, Chan- cellor of the Exchequer, in winding armaments in 1935, upwards u

up the debate, made a statement. a:300,000,000 ́ster.ing. "He had had

on to-day's events in Paris, con- the financial statements as to howfirming that the Locarno Fowers the money had been secretly found and the League Council will meet among Garman financiers.

in London. He added that the In the three years since Herr meeting of the Committee of Hitler had been in power, Ger Thirteen, which was to have been many had spent over £1,500,000.- held at Geneva to-morrow, hash 100-money raised by internal bor-been postponed until next week. rowing, and her zesources Ead Mr. Chamberlain said 'the events: been mortgaged even for four of the week-end had confirmed the years ahead. Supposing the figure statements in the White Paper that. were only £600,000,000, we should the situation was not static and; still be confronted with. facts that periodical changes in the pre--- which were immeasurable in' their | posals must be nečestary.- consequences. Millions of people ruter

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· London, Mar. 11.

Madrid, Mar. ‘10. Yesterday's conversations con- alst of preliminary exchange of Bnarp tension exists following the views and suggestions to deal with killing of two Socialists, allegedly the situation. Emphasis was also by Fascists, to-day. laid on the point that Germany The Socialists were holding a had chosen a strange method of meeting when shots were fired at Reuter. "vindicating her honour" by dis- the gathering from a passing taxi. honouring a freely negotiated reuter. treaty as a preliminary to offer- ing to negotiate another and that Auch methods

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cou'd arily create a convicing case and the points

London, March 11 In the House of Commona to- deep alarm and Indignation in ne made as to the dangers inher-

ent if the practice of unilateral day, Mr. J. H. Thomas, Secretary France.

Beginn Prime

Minister treaty brankings were it to be al of State for the Colonies, replying nerded no to Mr. Marcus Samuel (Com., made a point that so far as his lowed to continue.

Putney), announced that steps country was 'concerned Germany emphaats,

The British reprezentatives, with were, being taken to establish a had not even a thin excuse for the pact with Russia to justify reoccu- every desire that something con- telephone service between London nation of the former demilitarised, structive should emerge from the and Malaya which will be opened zone opposite the Belgian fron- present chaos were fully alive to as soon as the equipment which the serious laues raised by the has been ordered can be de- tiers.

From a juridical viewpoint also German action-- M. Fandin was enabled to present 1British - Wirelew.

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